It’s another off-season of challenge for Notre Dame as they attempt to bring in transfers to the football team while working around a stricter framework (not quite as bad as Stanford, but still) of academics. As of this writing, the Fighting Irish have already brought in 3 (scholarship) transfers this off-season and a ton of questions remain about the space available and where Notre Dame needs players the most.
So, let’s sift through it today.
No Need to Waste Time:
Quarterback, Running Back, Tight End, Offensive Line, Linebacker, Kicker, Punter
Notre Dame is in good shape at these positions in terms of numbers and talent. Even though there will be 6 new starters combined from these spots there isn’t a need to look into the portal now.
We just got a new quarterback:
Sam Hartman to Notre Dame: The Full Scouting Report
Tight end is obviously looking to move on from the record-breaking Michael Mayer but would have a hard time finding someone to unseat the growth of Mitchell Evans backed up by 5 others on the roster.
I’ve read some discussion among the Notre Dame media and fan base about a potential guard coming in to replace Patterson or Lugg. For me, there are too many young options to start developing and not enough scholarships to be looking in the portal. Maybe if this was shaping up to be a competitive National Championship run with incredible expectations, there weren’t many other holes, and there was space, then maybe find a grizzled veteran guard ready to transfer and start.
Starting offensive guard in 2023?
Notre Dame already brought in grad transfer kicker Spencer Shrader from USF a couple weeks before Christmas and he should be the unquestioned starter.
The team also looks to be pivoting toward redshirt freshman Bryce McFerson at punter with preferred walk-on Ben Krimm from Penn joining the program bringing 2 years of eligibility left.
Worth a Look:
Wide Receiver, Cornerback, Strong-Side End
Now we will discuss some interesting scenarios. Wide receiver has already brought in grad transfer Kaleb Smith the Elder from Virginia Tech and is currently sitting at 10 receivers under scholarship which is manageable. You’d really have to bring in a clear starter (even more than KSE) and someone absolutely good enough to make a big impact. The Irish offered Michigan transfer Andrel Anthony (19 receptions in 2 seasons in Ann Arbor) last week and I would not classify him as that type of talent.
Cornerback is a tough one. There will be 4 players (Hart & Lewis then Morrison & Mickey) with a lot of experience and a nice veteran vs. underclassmen divide from that group. If they plan on rolling with this lineup in various forms we’re probably all set. If they want to move Lewis to safety and/or someone like Mickey is looked at as a nickel-only, then a glance at the portal may be needed. I’m assuming we’ll see some attrition from younger players at this position soon and the depth won’t be as great.
Mickey & Morrison provide a great sophomore foundation at corner.Â
Will Notre Dame continue to utilize and train Rylie Mills at big end? He weighs 292 pounds while the Irish have been trying Howard Cross at nose guard at a trim 276 pounds. You’d think Mills will move inside which then opens up help needed on the edge.
Full Court Press:
Weak-Side End, Defensive Tackle, Nose Guard, Safety
From reports across the country and especially from the Notre Dame media it seems very likely that the program will bring in a safety through the portal. By all accounts, they are certainly trying very hard to line one up for 2023. In that case, it’s probably unlikely someone like Clarence Lewis moves to safety which means there’s no need for a portal entry at corner. Right now, it looks like the Irish are in pole position to bring in Oklahoma State target Thomas Harper who has been on campus recently.
This article really boils down to Notre Dame needing help along the defensive line. If Justin Ademilola doesn’t return, we could see a starting lineup like this:
WDE Jordan Botelho — DT Howard Cross — NG Rylie Mills — SDE NaNa Osafo-Mensah
Personally, that gives me Charlie Weis-era defensive line vibes. It’s a nice group! But, one where you’d have to be doing a lot of talking up about guys making big jumps.
I’ll take 8 sacks from Gobaira in 2023, please and thank you.Â
Worse, the depth behind them would be pretty scary if we’re looking strictly at experience. Rising redshirt sophomore Gabriel Rubio started gaining more and more reps later in the 2022 season–other than that no one has really any experience even touching the field. There are a ton of question marks.
We are due for some young talent making moves, and they may be forced to! Still, you could make the case Notre Dame should bring in, if possible, 3 defensive linemen from the portal this off-season. Ideally, I’d say a proven pass-rusher and 2 interior players with good size. This Friday, Utah State transfer Byron Vaughns is on campus and could fill a pass-rushing role.
Uncommitted Transfer Offers:
WR Ardel Anthony – Michigan
WR C.J. Williams – USC
DE Byron Vaughns – Utah State
DE Rondell Bothroyd – Wake Forest
DE Anthony Lucas – Texas A&M
S Thomas Harper – Oklahoma State
S Jalen Catalon – Arkansas
Everyone knows I’m the scholarship guy and our writers room likes to tease me about it all the time.
My educated guess is that we will see 13 players currently on the roster (Justin Ademilola just declared for the NFL Draft so he’s gone) not on the team for the 2023 season.
With Hartman committing that would open up space (if 13 players leave) for 5 more scholarships from the transfer portal.
Will Notre Dame be taking any undergrad transfers? I’ll believe when I see it.
From the above list Anthony, Williams, and Lucas are all undergrads and I doubt they will be transferring to Notre Dame. Things are looking good for Vaughns and Harper but they really could use at least one more defensive lineman at minimum.
The transfer portal closes, for non-graduates, on January 18th (and opens again briefly May 1-15) so there isn’t that much time left for these players to come visit, get cleared by admissions, and commit to Notre Dame if they’d like to be involved for the spring semester.
Thomas Harper just committed 2 minutes after this went live:
https://twitter.com/IamThomasHarper/status/1611423047587618816?s=20&t=78VaF_vsIGsRtDbi2c3HnQ
Inconsiderate jerk.
I would be concerned about Mills holding up inside all season long and Botelho holding up on the outside versus the run. Rubio did end up being solid in the limited snaps he got so hopefully he can keep up relatively the same performance with starter snaps (or a lot more snaps being a significant part of the rotation). Everyone else is pure projection and young (scary).
I like Mills a lot more at NG, he’s pretty long though. But he’s looked so dang slow on the edge sometimes.
Agree about Botelho, he still looks like a linebacker to me. I really doubt he’s the unquestioned 3-down starter.
Interesting. Then who else is there really at SDE behind NaNa? We may need Vernon to play right away.
Ehrensberger and Ford could play there potentially.
Ehrensberger which is iffy, Gobaira was there this past year but probably should be WDE, then Vernon.
Yea I think Gobaira was much smaller.
I guess the lack of bodies out there was why Mills was there to begin with. I do agree that he looked a bit slow out there at times.
Speaking of additional DL, I mentioned this in our writers’ room yesterday but there is another Oklahoma State prospect in the portal that could potentially be an option.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4361864/samuela-tuihalamaka
Samuela Tuihalamaka
6’1″/304 NG
23 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack in 2022
I think he’s related to our own Nuifae Tuihalamaka.
He would be helpful in a Chris Smith-type role. I think Rubio and Cross would start inside but we have almost nothing after that unless Ford or Keanaaina can give us significant snaps as backups. Inside is a huge need.
They were talking weird on II about Keanaaina how the coaches dismiss him quickly when asked and the pod outright mentioned it wouldn’t be a shock if he’s not long for the team, which didn’t make sense to them or me, or anyone. Seems like he’s done well in the limited looks but isn’t either in good standing with the coaches for whatever reason.
But some rotation of Cross, Mills, Rubio and a transfer is at least something on the inside. It’s a start. I’d also like to think Tyson Ford can get in the mix, even though he’s not 300+.
As mentioned above, I’m more concerned about where the pass rush comes from. The last thing we need is more of those delayed inside LB blitzes that almost never are effective at getting home. I always thought Botehlo just is too small and gets swallowed up too much by tackles, but he’s shown some improvement. But I think he’s better suited as a part time player than the premiere guy.
I agree on your hesitation to declare Botehlo a 3 down starter but in limited snaps he has been very effective at generating pressure. Holding up for big snap totals against the run might be a concern but I personally don’t worry too much about him getting pressure in a role of 30-35 snaps a game.
I want to say that I saw his pressure % was actually higher than Foskey’s this year. Again, grain of salt because he played way fewer snaps and played typically in obvious passing downs.
Very valid, he’s so violent and physical that it’s makes sense he is going to be able to do something. Like you said the % and rates on small samples are suspicious for sustainability over the grind and an increased role, but I certainly am all for finding out how much he can handle. Even with a step forward for Botehlo in role and performance, there’s no depth and that spot worries me.
Justin A is a must convince to return, if he’s not back the DL is really in a tough spot.
Yeah, that’s not happening. He declared for the draft earlier today.
Ah gotcha, missed that for reading “Jayson” instead. That’s a brutal loss.
Keanaaina was part of my 13 to be outty-5000.
So we are at 94 with Brown. Assume we add a Vyper type and get to 95. That means 10 have to go before August 1. Unless the coaches know a lot, I can’t see adding more than 1 additional player.
Do we start the speculation? Keanaaina is robbing Peter to pay Paul, but I agree he would be on a possible list.
There’s probably a 70% chance we had Vaughns soon and that might wrap things up for the time being.
We could probably add a grad transfer at any point later this spring, too. I hope there’s at least a Chris Smith-type coming down the pipeline on the interior.
Doesn’t a Smith type force a Keanaaina into the portal?
At what point do we decide that we have to live with recruiting misses or not quites? I guess we don’t anymore, but if we made a commitment to these kids, 4 for 40, I am not a fan of running them off.
Just pick one of the sophomore CBs. It is highly unlikely any of them see the field. They can decide to try elsewhere and I have no problem with that. But suppose one of them likes ND, wants his degree. Doesn’t care that he will never make the NFL. Perhaps isn’t seeing the field for whatever reason. Obviously, we can’t cut them, how do we get ‘rid’ of that person. Should we be getting rid of that person? We really need all three of those spots to make it to 10.
I got to meet a former player who played under our former coach. He was accepted back for a fifth year. He played, was a starter his senior year, but not a great player. He played all spring to get ready, and then they pulled his scholarship after spring ball.
I am trying to avoid speculating on the kids to be ‘cut’. I assume at this point there will be no more portal entries until the depth chart comes out after spring ball.
I’m speculating that Keanaaina is probably not healthy enough to contribute next year. He tore his ACL 10-11 months ago. Got into 1 game this year which is kinda weird, was it to briefly test his knee? He doesn’t have a body-type where I’d think he would bounce back all that well.
I noticed he wasn’t even wearing a knee brace at the bowl game. It’s possible he could graduate this summer and move on. Or he could be a medical scholarship and finishing up this degree sometime in 2023.
He’s been here 3 seasons, I don’t know what people are expecting in year 4 to be honest.
and then it was 93. So long spare long snapper.
I did read somewhere that there is the idea out there that a freshman transfer is actually a decent possibility for ND to be able to take because they have really only taken one semester of college classes. This would allow them the time to basically start from scratch and still graduate in 4 years.
Not sure on the total truth of that, but on the surface it seems to make at least a bit of sense. You would think that a first semester freshman would have at least 1 or 2 classes that could transfer and so they would only be a handful of classes behind and could make those up over the course of the next 3.5 years.
I don’t see why ND wouldn’t just let them come in as start from scratch freshman. If they were already accepted (presumably Lucas/Williams were), then even if no classes transfer, just treat them like a freshman who postpones his enrollment for 1 semester.
If they are worried about graduation rates, then let them stay an extra semester (if they don’t leave for the NFL). It’s super common to take longer than 4 years to graduate other places, and despite being uncommon at ND, I know people who did it.
Sounds very sensible and reasonable. Perhaps too much so 🙂
We need to be tampering so damn hard.
Long snapper Alex Peitsch is transferring.
A very troubling development for scholarship long snapper depth..
Still time to take another two or three scholarship snappers in the 2023 HS class.
Undergrad transfers should be allowed (but only for specialists)